Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

When you’re cracking open your planner, or opening up your digital calendar (I use both)--here’s what we tend to do: put in the things we have to do first. Things like commute, work, have this meeting or this appointment. And then we try to squeeze in everything else around it–things like, do something with friends, exercise, read, do our hobbies. All those things make us who we are and add enjoyment to our days and richness to our lives. I say, let’s switch that whole approach around. Make space for the things you WANT to do, FIRST, and then squeeze in all the things you have to do around it. It’s the equivalent of the financial advice to pay yourself first–take the time you need for yourself right off the top, and then everything else will sort itself into the spaces that are left. This episode sponsored by: Zapier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time isn’t just this tangible thing that you can parcel out and have it behave in predictable ways. So let’s stop trying to make it our b-i-t-c-h, whaddya say? The thing is, when you are feeling good and in a groove, mentally, physically, and spiritually, you cut through tasks like a hot knife through butter. It’s better, then, to stop trying to manage your time, and focus instead of managing your energy. This is not just some woo-woo thing that I personally believe. The Harvard Business Review article that describes the Energy Project study I mention in this episodeFor more episodes on raising your energy, scroll back to March and look for the “tending your energy” tag in the episode titles. There’s good stuff there!This episode sponsored by: Zapier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A big reason we make plans is to stave off stress–if you know what’s happening when, it gives you a feeling of control and helps you know that you’re doing the things that you need and want to do.And there’s a certain type of planning can also make you significantly happier, and not the kind of satisfaction that comes from having all your ducks in a row, but actual happiness that recharges your creativity, helps you be in the moment, and creates memories that can last a lifetime. What is this magical planning hack? Plan. More. Vacations!!Research quoted in this episode:1 in 4 Americans who work in the private sector get NO paid time off 700 million vacation days go unused each yearVacations really do help us feel less tired and more mindfulPeople are more engaged and productive at work after taking a vacationSurvey that found that taking time off reduces reports of depressionThat vacation feeling only lasts about 2 weeksThis episode sponsored by: Better HelpZapier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If planning is so great–and because I’m devoting a week of episodes to it, I think it’s clear that I do believe in the power of planning–what do you do when plans change? Does that mean all your effort is wasted? That’s what we’re talking about today. (I think we can all relate to dashed plans now that we’re in a post-COVID world.)This episode sponsored by: Better HelpZapier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I'm interviewing planning expert Sarah Hart-Unger, host of the Best Laid Plans podcast. A self-described "compulsive list maker and life planner," Sarah's planning prowess has been honed through experience. In addition to Best Laid Plans, Sarah is also the co-host of the Best of Both Worlds podcast, with Laura Vanderkam; is a pediatric endocrinologist; has three kids; and is a daily blogger and a devoted runner. In this interview, Sarah shares how she makes time for planning, her systems for sharing plans with her family, her favorite planning tools, and the mindset she brings to planning in the first place (which was way different from how I had been approaching it). Best Laid Plans podcastBest of Both Worlds podcastSarah’s websiteThis episode sponsored by: Better HelpZapier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As great as planning is, it’s important to give yourself the space of having no plans on a regular basis. John Lennon said life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans–planning for no plans means you’re just giving yourself some space for life to unfold without totally derailing what you had planned. (Plus, what NOT to do during this unplanned time.)Relevant blog post: Plan for No PlansThis episode sponsored by: Better HelpZapier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m sharing ways to make planning less stressful and more happy-making. Today’s big idea is that there’s a type of planning that most of us don’t even think to make room for on our calendars, but that can help us do our best thinking and ensure that we pay good attention to the things that matter most (and that tend to get drowned out in a typical day). It’s called the Shultz Hour–listen to the episode for all the details!This episode sponsored by: Better HelpZapier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Insomnia tends to follow two basic patterns–difficulty getting to sleep, and difficulty staying asleep. Today’s episode is for the folks in the second camp, who wake up in the middle of the night and have a hard time getting back to sleep. I have several strategies to share that you can use to help you get the rest of your z’s. This episode sponsored by: ZapierNutrafol promo code “BETTER” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is for anyone who’s insomnia style of choice is to wake up in the middle of the night and have problems getting back to sleep. I have really interesting and, ultimately, good news for you. Humans have only been sleeping straight through the night as a matter of general practice since the Industrial Revolution. Before that, it was customary to be up for an hour or so in the middle of the night. So if this happens to you, you’re not a failure! I also share tips on how to get back to sleep. This episode sponsored by: ZapierNutrafol promo code “BETTER” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I recently discovered something that helps me sleep better every time and it’s something you don’t often hear about. And that is turning off–or moving–your WiFi router before you go to bed. Call me crazy if you must, but I swear that WiFi keeps me awake! Maybe I’m just an environmentally-sensitive oddball… but maybe, you are two. I have an experiment for you to try, just to see if electromagnetic frequencies might be contributing to your sleep woes. This episode sponsored by: ZapierNutrafol promo code “BETTER” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices